At the weekend, I was talking to one of my former Ultimate Acting students who is now a pro actor.
He said he was working on a job and a crew member asked if he was a method man.
He said he was.
The reply that came back shocked him.
“How long do you method?”
He said, “Eh? What do you mean how long do I method?”
“You know, how long to get into character and do weird stuff?”
Ah, the innocence and naivety of the uninitiated.
You see, there is so much rubbish in the media about people doing weird and bizarre things all in the name of the method, that people don’t know the difference between the lies and the truth.
(Strasberg is probably birling in his grave!)
Now, the above statement by this crew member is wrong on so many levels I don’t know where to start…but let me give it a try.
The method is not about weird stuff, it’s a “method”.
When you bake a cake (not that I ever do because I’m a hard arse from Glasgow) the recipe outlines ingredients and guess what….a METHOD!
Change an ingredient and what do you get?…..a crap cake.
Change the method and what do you get?….a crap cake.
Following the instructions to the letter you get a big nice fluffy cake for tea.
(Not that I eat spongy, moist, Victoria sponge cakes because I’m a hard arse from Glasgow).
Now, if you were to elongate the method of making the cake would it make a better cake?
Nope. In fact, it could make it worse.
So, you see it’s not how long your method is, it’s how you use it that counts.
(Like so many other things in life)
Something to think about!
Brian
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk
I don’t particularly like the word “awesome”.
Overused and a tad American.
Not that I have anything against the Americans.
In fact, the opposite is true. I love them. They believe they can do anything
Which is why I used the word.
You are awesome because I truly believe you are capable of achieving anything you want.
I know I talked about this yesterday, but I’m hammering on about it today too because I saw this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3-g8QUoo4c
Go and watch it (you will be glad you did) and come back to me.
After watching that don’t you now think that any reason for not going after what we want in life is bullshit?
In her words, she pursued what she thought was a “ridiculous dream” and achieved it, overcoming incredible odds.
She also said something else worthy of note.
“Some people are afraid of taking on their goals because of their fear of failure. I think, if you are not failing 50% of the time, you haven’t set your goals high enough.”
Indeed.
You go girl!
How high are you aiming?
How high do you want to go?
All the way?
Then the Ultimate Acting Programme awaits….but not forever.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
Brian
Mark Rylance (probably the best stage actor ever) had this to say about how Shakespeare is done today in the UK:
“It’s too reverent. It is like taking a rap song in 400 years from now that we think is really wonderful and deciding it should be said slowly, so all the lovers of rap can hear every word.”
At last, someone has finally called it.
When actors do Shakespeare in this country, they are expected to have a plummy bellowing voice and to declaim every word.
As Mark points out, that’s like Eminem’s Lose Yourself being done very slowly.
Did you know that in Shakespeare’s day there was no Standard English pronunciation? All the actors had regional accents. So, why is it now that the establishment insists on it being said like a newsreader?
I think it’s no mistake that Mark compared Shakespeare today to rap. Rap is a very gritty and real form of expression.
I, like many other industry insiders have no time for overacted work. They want real, believable and gutsy acting; especially, for film.
That’s why we focus on The Method on the Ultimate Acting Programme.
Here is how one of my former students put it:
“I choose the Method because you can be who you really are. You can tap into your own emotions and experiences and project that on to the screen or on the stage.
It’s changed me in a massive way. It’s absolutely brilliant!’’ – Angela Walters
No flowery, namby-pamby crap, just real, believable, emotional work.
Next round of auditions are next week.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
Brian
Now and again, I will get an email from a mush cookie saying that I’m not being fair.
It’s usually when I say that acting is not for everyone and definitely not for those that need their tummies tickled on a regular basis.
They then say, “But Bri, it’s your job as a teacher to take people by the hand and lead them to acting success; especially, if they are fragile and scared”.
Bollocks!
Fragile and scared types should probably become accountants or something like that, because they will treat you fair in those nice cushy office environments.
Here is the harsh reality about acting: It’s not fair!
Does the best actor always get the job?
Nope and it’s not fair.
Do you get to audition for the right roles all the time?
Nope and it’s not fair.
Sometimes, you get down to the last two and they go with the other actor because they have blue eyes.
Again, not fair.
The acting industry has got to be one of the most unfair industries in the world and guess what? It doesn’t care.
Oooh harsh.
Like I said, it’s not for mush cookies, the fragile and scared.
I certainly don’t have time for them. I want acting Gladiators. I want students willing to step into the arena and take a hundred lashes from my acting whip (metaphorically speaking) without having to go crying to mummy.
Life is not always fair, my friend, but it’s all about how you deal with it that counts.
Now, if you want to give yourself the very best in this unfair industry then you need to learn The Method.
My book awaits you!
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-method-acting/
Brian
One of my favourite film baddies of all time is General Zod.
He appears in Superman II and tries to take over the world much to Superman’s chagrin.
During the film, Zod makes everyone he can find kneel before him in submission.
He gives them a – do as I say or you’re toast look – and then says:
“Kneel before Zod.”
Superman on the other hand has the respect of everyone and doesn’t need to make people kneel before him. He just helps them and automatically gains their respect.
So, here is the thing:
Are you kneeling before Zod or are you with Superman?
The acting game can be a murky affair at times. There are some aspiring actors who kneel before Zod type industry members and are then led up the garden path.
Others seek out those who have their best interest at heart and really want to work with them.
Which reminds me, I must get my red cape fixed.
I’m here to fight for truth, and justice, and the method acting way.
Brian
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk
What are dreams?
Here are some definitions from the dictionary:
1. A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep.
2. A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
3. An unrealistic or self-deluding fantasy.
I don’t particularly like any of these; at least not in relation to achieving something I want.
Goals on the other hand are a different kettle to fish.
Here are some definitions of goals:
1. (In football, rugby, hockey, and some other games) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and typically with a net between, forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score.
2. The object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
3. The destination of a journey.
No.1 doesn’t apply unless you are Ronaldo, but 2 and 3 are definitely my cup of tea.
You will notice they mention things like effort, results and destination.
These are all things that require action!
Anyone with half a brain can dream but to achieve goals requires you to be a person of action.
So when I hear people say they dream of becoming an actor, my eyes glaze over. But when I hear someone say, I want to become an actor and I’m doing something about it, I sit up and take notice.
Ditch the dreams and get focused on goals; that’s what I say.
Talking of which, there are people already taking action this year to realize their goal of becoming a pro actor next year by auditioning for my Ultimate Acting Programme.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
No dreamers; just goal-oriented individuals need apply.
Brian
Over the last decade, we have seen a mass influx of things that are free of.
For example:
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Wheat Free
Sugar Free
So, I would like to add an acting one….Emotion Free.
Yes, there is acting that goes on that is completely devoid of emotion.
You look in their eyes and the lights are on but no-one is home.
In fact, sometimes I think some of the old guard wear this as a badge of honour. No emotion please; we are British!
Well, things have changed and people not only want to see real and truthful emotion; they are demanding it.
The question is how do you do it?
Some believe that it’s just by chance or if they manage to engage with the characters’ circumstances enough.
No, no and thrice no.
There is an art and science on how to create emotion on demand but there is a very dependable way of doing.
Which is all part of The Method baby!
Now, if you are ready to start some serious and full on method training next year then you need to start taking action this year.
Trust me; this year will be over before you can say Jack Kerouac.
The next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme are on 2nd December.
You need to apply first though and be accepted onto the auditions.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
Brian
Not so long ago the Turner Prize-winning artist, Grayson Perry, built a house.
It’s no run-of-the-mill house; it’s an artistic expression.
You can see it here.
Grayson got a lot of stick for building this house.
Some have criticized it (especially the locals); others love it.
Such is the world of art.
Grayson was interviewed and was asked how appropriate he thinks the house is for the area, which is in Essex.
He laughed and said, “Appropriate…that’s not a word I really think about.”
Herein lies the lesson.
Great artists don’t think about being “appropriate”; they think about expression.
They don’t really care whether you think their expression is appropriate or not. In fact, your opinion is completely irrelevant to them. They just want to express and create. The outcome of that is for others to judge.
You can see when this attitude exists in an actor. When you watch the great actors of the world you can see that they have no problem expressing themselves and taking action.
They don’t second-guess whether their actions are appropriate. They take action first and look at the results.
Some actors can feel inhibited about taking impulsive actions because they start to think about what others may think of their actions.
If you find yourself in this situation, carry out the Jack Nicholson test.
(This is a wee test I have found useful.)
Would Jack be worried about taking an action?
I doubt there is very much that Jack wouldn’t express. He has become fearless.
And so should you.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. It will not be the end of the world if you take an action that someone else feels is inappropriate, and let’s face it, the definition of inappropriate changes from person to person.
So, here is the thing. To be a great artist it’s appropriate to be inappropriate. If you are always appropriate, you restrict your creativity and probably become boring.
And who wants that?
No-one, my friend, no-one.
Right, listen up. I have started auditioning already for next year’s Ultimate Acting Programme…yes, there are aspiring actors out there getting their ducks in a line, so they can start training next year.
If you want to get things sorted pre 2016 then the next audition day is December 2nd.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
Brian
Many moons ago, I was teaching a young lady who (due to her conditioning) found it very difficult to be intimate in her acting.
Every time she had to kiss a male actor she would freeze up.
I asked her why?
She said it was to do with her culture and family upbringing, which would frown upon doing this sort of thing with someone she had just met.
Interesting.
You see, acting isn’t just about learning a technique; it’s also about cultivating the ground upon which those acting seeds are to be sown.
The fact is, your acting is dependent upon what we call in The Method – your instrument – which is your mind and body.
This instrument of yours is organic and ever-changing. There are advantages to this (an email for another day) but there are also disadvantages.
If you find it difficult to play certain aspects of a character, either emotionally or behaviourally, it could be your conditioning getting in the way.
So, what do you do?
You have to become conscious of your conditioning and start to challenge it in order to expand the kind of characters you can play.
Now, if you would like to get cracking with that and then learn the technique used by Hollywood’s acting elite then it’s your lucky day.
Get your mitts on my book – The Ultimate Guide to Method Acting.
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-method-acting/
It’s all in there!
Brian
One of my favourite books is The Fountainhead.
It’s about a couple of aspiring architects trying to get ahead.
Here is what Howard Roark, one of the characters, has to say about his work:
“I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I have chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture.”
(At the time of saying this he is about 22. So, he is assuming he will live into his 80s.)
Now, I think this is a very interesting observation which many people don’t think too much about.
They get a job that they “kinda like” or even worse “can’t stand” and do it all their days. Is this not self-inflicted torture?
Why do people do it?
They fall into a system that says: “This is the way it is, and this is what we expect of you and God forbid you try to do something different.”
The saddest thing is our time is limited. We are not here forever. One day all of this lovely world will go black and that will be that. The end.
Just before that happens you will want to look back and say that you had a blast and I don’t mean just going out having “fun”.
I mean looking back and seeing your life’s work and feeling passion, joy and happiness, not 60 years of torture.
Now, even if you do follow your heart into a profession like, let’s say, acting; you still need to choose what you want to do within that.
If you don’t, it could still lead to 60 years of torture.
For example, what if you ended up doing only panto or only theatre in education all your life? This may be fine for some, which is cool, but for others it would be torture. You must do the kind of work that sets your world on fire. You must find a way. Your life depends on it.
It’s time to take action towards what you want.
The Ultimate Guide to Method Acting awaits…
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-method-acting/
Brian